Clenching jaw while using CPAP

M'ohms wrote:This is the collar that I use. It was inexpensive and you can find one at any drug store. I thought that, if I didn't like it, like it, then the investment was minimal. I am very happy with it.

://www.ebay.com/itm/cervical-collar-CAREX- ... 190841[url][/url]

Thanks! That's seriously prevents mouth breathing?

It seriously prevents jaw drop! I can't keep my lips sealed at all without tape so I use a FFM. The problem for me is keeping my jaw in position so my facial structure doesn't change causing leaks. It also helps with the TMJ. Here's a picture, I hope:



I was at the wrong computer last night

I was having problems with a demo mask but I used a different brands headgear with it and the problem went away. I now use a resmed mask with F&P headgear.

You can get 2 youth boil and bite mouth guards and mold one for the top and one for the bottom. I bite pretty hard when molding them. It helps me with teeth grinding and dry mouth. They are cheap and easy to fit.

I actually already use a night guard. It doesn't prevent me from over-clenching my jaw when I try to keep my mouth closed though.

Well, I don't see a lot of workable choices here as far as equipment goes. There's no way I'm wearing one of those cervical things. I am very sensitive to stuff around my neck. Not only could I not sleep in that, I couldn't even sit comfortably in it. And taping my mouth shut in any configuration would prevent me from drinking throughout the night.

So, I guess my only options are to try to acclimate to the CPAP and hope the tension goes away, or do some kind of hypnosis or Feldenkrais, or other mind/body stuff to shift that pattern.

Okay, well I have a similar problem with teeth clenching since starting on cpap. I started to experience some tooth sensitivity, especially to cold. So after going to my dentist and having them say that everything looks just fine (very helpful), I did some reading and found that this can come from clenching my teeth at night. Which I never did before cpap, so didn't have the teeth sensitivity problem before that. Anyways, I figured I'd probably have to wear a night guard, but decided to try one thing before going there. I started making sure (consciously) that I was holding my teeth apart during the day, and when I was awake at night, hoping that would translate into not clenching my teeth when sleeping, as before cpap. Been doing that for several months now, and while I still have a minor amount of tooth sensitivity occasionally, it is so much better that I'm not thinking about it most of the time. And when I do think about it, I find that I'm holding my teeth apart (as they should be). And doing this has not caused any mouth breathing that I can see on my leak data.

I don't think that this would work for everyone, but if you've just started clenching your teeth as a result of using cpap, it might work. And it is easier to live with than more headgear when you're trying to sleep *smile*.